This is a prediction activity which doubles up as a ‘hook’ to engage children. Usually, the teacher will have three large envelopes, out of which different windows will have been cut, so that each envelope reveals different aspects of the front cover. The children then talk in their pairs and make predictions about the book. Some might be able to see text and others pictures or colours. Once the children have discussed in their pairs, the teacher then leads the discussion. It might be useful to employ the ‘tell me’ grid headings People – Places – Story – Time to structure the discussion.

A Big Envelope with a window cut out

If it suits the needs of the session or the children, written predictions might be recorded on a ‘tell me’ grid or in a reading journal. This is a good time to practise the use of conjunctions such as and/or/but and especially because.